The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-05-28
Ten Million Acres More,

There are over 10 UuO, 600 of acres of the
finest grazing and farming lands III Dakota
lying west and north Of Devils Lake, which
have been withheld from the operations of
the homestead and pre-emption laws be-
cause of the questionable claims of a small
band of Turtle Mountain Chippewas to the
land.
In January, 1856. Surveyor General Tay
lor, of Dakota contracted for the surveys of
/ 500, 600 acres of these lands in compliance
with existing relations, but in less than
month. with Characteristic ignorance and
perYerslty, Commissioner Sparks issued an
order Indefinitely postpouiug the surveys,
and even went so far as to decline to place
on file plats of several townships surveyed
| under contracts approved prior to the action
Suspending surveys, after their examination
in the field and their correctness was
affirmed Mr. II. c. Green, as contractor
tor these surveys, appealed to the secretary
OF the interior, who has recently overruled
the land commissioners action and ordered
that the suspended contracts be approved
and plats of surveys already made be filed
in the proper local land offices for disposal
under the land laws. The surveyor general
has instructed the contractors to proceed
with the surveys as rapidly as possible.
This action causes great rejoicing among
the settlers in the Devils Lake land district,
| hundreds of whom settled upon unsurveyed
IdIluS dlitT lDe reversal, III ANo- ny DttIttdiS y
/ Teller, of the order of Secretary SChuZ,
made two years previous Withholding the
lands from occupancy. Secretary Teller, in
his opinion, now affirmed by Secretary La
| mar, says:
Il am of the opinion that the claim is not
well founded, yet if it should appear on
| careful examination of the facts that such
| claim does exist, it will be the duty of the
government to make proper compensation
To hn Ind Il d L aarlv
| 100000 acres of valuable lands on which
great number of settlers are now located,
should be withheld from the operations OF
| the homestead and pre-emptiOn laws be
| cause a question has been raised whether the
small band of Indians mot exceeding 300
have claim on this land or not 1t Is not
contended by anyone that the government
| has recognized this claim of the Indians by
! treaty with them and the Indians make no
| use of the land except to roam over it, not
| cultivating, l think, any of it
| The vast tract Of land now opened to set
| ilement possesses natural advantages unsur-
| passed by any other part of Dakota. Its
| lands are exceedingly fertile, affording the
| choicest pasturage and producing wheat OF
| the fnest quality, and rivaling that of the
| famous Saskatchewan country. There Is an
abundance of wood along the streams, pro
| yiding cheap lumber as well as fuel for the
| early settlers. The extensive coal deposits
| OF the Turtle Mountains and in the Mouse
| River Valley insure cheap fuel for the fu-
| Ure, and invite manufacturing industries
The removal of all barriers to the settle
ment and development of the country Will
| hasten the completion and extension Of the
| Cando. Bottineau, and other projected
| branches of the Manitoba Railway Compa-
ny With its free lands, wealth and diversi-
| N OF natural resources, and present and
prospective facilities for reaching the pri-
| mary markets, We know of no region offer
| ing 50 many inducements to intending emf
| grants.
During the next two or three years we
| shall witness a tide of immigration into the
| extreme northern part Of Dakota, and
transformation of virgin prairies into fine
| farms and homes of prosperous and happy
| people scarcely equaled in the history Of
| Dakota, and which was impossible in the
| settlement of other state. and territories
tyftt Dakota fta r.sy.